Iliana held the forged letter firmly in her hand, her thumb tracing the crisp edge of the paper as the carriage came to an unexpected halt.
"What happened?" she asked, leaning toward the small wooden hatch.
"My lady, we cannot proceed further," the driver called back through the window. "Word has just come down the street that Prince Sylvian has arrived in the city for an unannounced visit. The guards have closed off the main thoroughfare."
Iliana froze, her pulse spiking at the mention of his name.
"I am sorry, my lady, but you will have to step down here," the driver continued, opening the carriage door for her. "I shall refund your fare."
"No, that is quite alright," Iliana murmured, stepping out onto the cobblestones.
The street was in utter disarray. Dozens of carriages stood abandoned in long lines, their horses snorting in impatience while passengers poured out onto the footpaths, forced to continue their journeys on foot through the swelling crowd.
